The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline shock absorber and wheel bearing choice

hello chaps,

half ton, 1953 panel truck..

ive got the cheap wheel bearing roller upgrade, but after reading the horror stores on here have been looking for the best quality i can find of roller or ballbearing.

now in the uk. i can only find, one bearing original.. everything else is coming from china

do you know where i can get any from? ive looked on ebya for a month..checked with the "filling station" as suggested and found nothing. should i just fit what ive got?


my next question is about shock absorbers, and what / or who to buy from? my truck is a daily driver, standard height ect, classic parts of america stock monroe?

Monroe 5826 and 33049

i so far also looked at chevys of the 40's and jim carter

in any case uk and Europe both KYB or Monroe HQ dont recognise any old chevys?! everything i buy is as ever from usa!

Try rockauto.com I'm not for sure about international shipping but I've had good luck stateside. You'll want part number B01 and B52 in Timken or National brands. For the seal look for number 6064 for the oem felt type seal and 483238v for a viton lip seal.

Shocks, can't give you anything one way or the other

I have always had good luck with NAPA. If you can order on line and they ship to you thats a bonus. I do not know if you have NAPA there,they are good quality here. I was told the japonese or canadian bearings are good products and the chinese bearings will get you through but its a pay me now or pay me later type of thing.

Shocks not sure about i have ran monroes and gaberials for general purpose with no problems.

Good luck

When ever I need a bearing I will take the old bearing in to Brown Bearings (just one of our local suppliers)Thay will allways match it up and uasually give me a choice between USA or import. Always cheeper then NAPA.

There are several online bearing outfits that you can find these tapered roller bearings. I have a set and I messed one of the bearings up by accident. I did want to buy the whole set so I went hunting. After a few tries, I got what I needed online and have a happy truck.

thank you all very much for suggestions, if only it was as easy to head to NAPA!. i have called them and they will not send over sea.

here in the uk we have rockauto.co.uk but they show no stock..but rockauto.com does so going to try and get them to send some over.(cheers for the numbers "whitedog")
my local bearing specialists can order bearings but all unnamed brands and location of manufacture!

this is the answer I got from Rockauto..very quick on the email

"Dear Dan,

We cannot confirm where National (or any other manufacturer) sources their parts, most often because they are sourced from multiple locations around the world."

?? to buy or not to buy! as ever!!

Daniel, If I'm not mistaken, National and Timken are parts/subsidiaries of the same company. For Instance, I bought a Timken seal awhile back and it had "National" stamped on it. I know they do make their parts here in the states and in the asian market. So, it's a toss up where they are actually coming from. TImken has really good quality standards, so I wouldn't be afraid of using anything they make.

Chris

National (Bower / BCA?) and Timken are all good bearings. Usually built to a certain standard or specification. So, unless the Chinese are building them to those manufacturers specifications, they won't find a way in to the manufacturers packaging.

I did a little research. Seems as though National and Bower/BCA are all Federal Mogul companies. Timken is still independent. Interesting.

Yep. Federal Mogul bought up a bunch of companies some time ago.

thank you all for your help. i think its worth a gamble on rock auto and hope they turn out ok.